Improvement in curtain-fixtures



F. B. SCOTT.

Improvement in Curtain-Fixtures.

N0. l27',274.- Patented May 28,1872.

*IIIIIIIIIIIIIII AMFHUfU-LITHUGRAPHIC CZZMY. (USED/MIPS PROCESS) PATENTQFFIGE.

FRANCIS B. SCOTT, OF LANCASTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CURTAIN-FIXTURES.

Specifieation forming part of Letters Patent No. 127,274, dated May28,1872.

SPECIFICATION.

I, FRANCIS B. SCOTT, of the town of Lancaster, in the county of Erie andState of New York, have invented certain Improvements inCurtain-Fixtures, of which the following is a specification Previous tomy invention an automatic gravity-pawl, pivoted to the end of thecurtain-roller, and engaging with ratchets or stops on the adjacent faceof the bracket which supports the end of the roller, has been employedin supporting window-shades. In these devices the pawl and stop havebeen so arranged that when the roller was rapidly rotated in rolling upor unrollin g the curtain the pawl would be thrown outward bycentrifugal force so as not to en gagewith the stop, while with a slowermovement of the roller the centrifugal force is insufficient to overcomethe weight of the pawl, which, in such case, falls inward by gravity,and engages with the ratchets and arrests the movement of the shade.

My improvements are designed more particularly for heavy shades, inwhich the ordinary endless cord is an insuflicient or an insecure meansfor arresting and supporting the shade, especially in lowering the same.A heavy shade, when not checked in unwinding, acquires such momentum asto cause serious injury to the fastenings by the sudden stoppage of themovement when the shade has become entirely unwound from the roller.

My invention consists of a gravity-pawl pivoted to the end of theroller, and arranged with a stop on the face of the roller supportingbracket in such a manner that when the roller in unwinding the shaderotates with suffioient rapidity to cause the centrifugal force tocounterbalance the gravity of the pawl, the latter will be thrownoutward and engage with the stop and arrest the descent of the shade,while with a slower movement of the roller the gravity of the pawl willcause it to fall inward so as to pass the stop, as it is broughtadjacent thereto, by the rotation of the roller, without engagingtherewith or arrestingthe descent of the shade.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure [is an end elevation of the pulleyof the curtain-roller and supporting bracket, showing the safetypawlengaged .with the stop. Fig. II is an elevation of the pulley with thestop in section,

representing the safety-pawl resting on the hub of the pulley so as topass by the stop. Fig. III is a partly sectional top-plan view of acurtain-roller provided with my improvements. Fig. IV is an elevation ofthe other supporting-bracket. Fig. V is an elevation of the pulley, withthe pawl and bracket reversed, the latter being indicated by dottedlines.

Like letters designate like parts in each of the figures.

A represents the roller to which the shade is attached, and upon whichit is wound in elevating it. B is the end plate, secured to one end ofthe roller A; it is cast with the pulley b for the endless cord 1) and ahub, c, for

the reception of the journal (I, which is shown in the drawing castwiththe supporting bracket. The rim of the plate B, in which the groove12 is formed, projects outward beyond the face of the plate, so as to beflush with the hub c,

as clearly shown in Fig. III. D is the bracket,

provided with a journal, d, and forming the support of that end of thecurtain-roller to which the plate B is attached; it is constructed witha flange, d, for securing it to the window-case by screws in the usualmanner. 6 is a projecting lip or stop, arranged on the bracket D in ahorizontal line through the center of the journal d, at such a distancetherefrom as to nearly touch the inner edge of the projecting rim of theplate B. It projects into the annular space or recess between said rimand the hub 0 of the plate B, so as to nearly come in contact with theface of the latter, as clearly shown in Fig. III. f is a stop-pawl,arranged on the face of the plate B in the annular recess between itsrim and the hub; it is pivoted to the plate B near the latter by a screwj, so as to play freely on the same.

The operation of this part of my invention is as follows:- When theshade is slowly lowered by means of the endless cord 12, the pawl thecurtain-roller A it is constructed with a journal, y, but without theusual circular flange on its edge, so that the shade can be nailed tothe roller A to within avery short distance from the edge of the plateGr. His a bracket, forming the support for this end of thecurtain-roller; it is provided with a bearing, h,

consisting of two horizontal jaws, open at the front for theintroduction of the journal g, which latter is retained in the bearingby a locking pin, h passing vertically through both jaws, as clearlyshown in Fig. IV. The hear ing it projects inwardly from the web of thebracket toward the plate G, as shown at h, Fig. III. This constructionenables the edge of the curtain to project beyond the edge of the plateGwithout coming in contact with the bracket, thereby maintaining theedge of the curtain smooth and unruftled. The brackets D and H areconstructed symmetrical on both sides of their horizontal center lines,

whereby they are enabled to be used as right or left hand brackets, asmay be desired. The pawl f is constructed with a countersink on eachside for the head of its pivot f, so as to be likewise reversible, theface of the plate B being cast with a small projecting hub, as shown inFig. III, which fits in the countersink of the pawl, whereby thefriction of the latter on the plate B is greatly lessened.

In Fig.Vthe pawl f and bracketD are shown reversed, the latter beingindicated by dotted lines.

The operation of hanging window-shades is greatly simplified by makingthe parts reversible, as it is not necessary for the operator to havetwo sets of brackets on hand, as was formerly the case.

1 claim as my invention-= The combination, with a curtain-roller andsupportingbraoket, of the gravity-pawl f and stop 6, when arranged sothat the pawl will be actuated by centrifugal force in engaging with thestop, and be released by gravity, and caused to pass .by the stopwithout engaging therewith when the centrifugal force is reduced,substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

FRANCIS B. SCOTT.

Witnesses:

VroroR H. BECKER, JOHN J. BONNER.

